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SoftwareONE delivers solid performance and good progress with Comparex integration in 2019

SoftwareONE delivers solid performance and good progress with Comparex integration in 2019

Stans, Switzerland

31 March 2020

SoftwareONE Holding AG, a leading global provider of end-to-end software and cloud technology solutions, today announced solid performance for the 2019 financial year, in line with the guidance provided during the IPO in October. The integration of Comparex, acquired in January 2019, is on track and delivered faster than anticipated synergies for the year.

On like-for-like basis including Comparex, gross profit grew 4.3% year-on-year at constant currency1 to CHF 737.2 million, in line with 4-6% guidance for 2019

Continued very strong gross profit growth in SoftwareONE book of business, while Comparex book of business was affected by ongoing integration as anticipated

Integration of Comparex in line with schedule and achievement of synergies ahead of plan with CHF 10 million reached in 2019; on track to deliver targeted gross profit and cost synergies of approx. CHF 60 million p.a. on adjusted EBITDA level in 2021

SoftwareONE has seen continued business momentum in 2020, with limited effects of Covid-19 so far, although likely impact since mid-March unclear and developments unpredictable

With its digitally focused business model as well as its CHF 191 million net cash position (as at end-2019), unused credit lines and strong cash flow, the group is well prepared to weather a potential longer-term downturn

Board of Directors proposes dividend of CHF 0.21 per share for 2019

Investor, analyst and media conference call to be held today at 9.00 am CEST

Dieter Schlosser, Chief Executive Officer of SoftwareONE, stated: “We achieved solid performance in 2019 and at the same time substantially enhanced the scale, efficiency and profile of our global software and cloud technology platform. While the acquisition of Comparex and our IPO were the strategic highlights in 2019, we also managed to increase profitability significantly. This reflects our continued growth course, relentless focus on our customers, and disciplined business management, leveraging our lean operating model built to deliver profitable growth at scale. Although the year 2020 is characterized by uncertainties due to the Covid-19 situation, we are well prepared for an adverse economic environment and confirm our medium-term outlook.”

Solid performance during integration year

SoftwareONE delivered solid performance in 2019, the year of its acquisition and integration of Comparex, which is included in the group’s results from 1 February 2019. In overall healthy markets for the group’s Software & Cloud and Solutions & Services business lines, reported revenue more than doubled to CHF 7.6 billion compared with 2018.

On a like-for-like basis including Comparex’ standalone results for 2018 and 2019, gross profit increased by 4.3% on a constant currency basis to CHF 737.2 million, in line with the 2019 guidance of 4-6% provided during the IPO. Management considers gross profit to be a meaning¬ful metric for the group’s earnings capacity as it excludes flow-through costs from revenue, specifically costs for software purchases on behalf of clients as well as third-party service delivery costs. Software¬ONE continued to deliver very strong gross profit growth rates in its own book of business in 2019, while the progressing integration affected the Comparex book of business, as anticipated.

Gross profit from sale of software and other revenue grew by 2.8% on a like-for-like basis at constant currency in 2019, at the upper end of the IPO guidance range, reflecting the successful integration of the two salesforces. Solutions and services achieved gross profit growth of 9.2%, lower than the guidance due to the harmonization of Comparex’ services portfolio with SoftwareONE. As planned, the combined services portfolio has been rolled out and the incentive plans have been fully aligned as of the beginning of 2020, which positions the combined group for the next phase of growth.

Cost development reflecting Comparex integration and efficient business management

On a reported basis, personnel expenses increased to CHF 439.9 million in 2019, from CHF 224.3 million in 2018, and other operating expenses rose to CHF 115.3 million in 2019, from CHF 57.4 million in 2018, reflecting the Comparex acquisition. Total headcount (FTE) stood at 5,442 as at the end of 2019, compared with 5,377 on a combined basis and 2,636 on a SoftwareONE standalone basis as at the end of 2018.

On a like-for-like basis, overall operating expenses increased by 6.3% at constant currency. Overall operating expenses (on an adjusted like-for-like basis) comprised 69.7% of gross profit in 2019, compared with 74.2% in 2018. This reflects SoftwareONE’s disciplined, efficient integration and business management, leveraging its global shared service centers and regional hubs as well as lean operating structure.

Strong increase in profitability

As a result of SoftwareONE’s continued gross profit growth, cost discipline and cultural alignment of the combined organization, adjusted EBITDA increased by 23.1%, on a like-for-like basis at constant currency, to CHF 223.6 million. The adjusted EBITDA margin as a percentage of gross profit increased from 25.8% in 2018 to 30.3% in 2019 on a like-for-like basis, above the group’s 2019 target range of 28-30%.

Adjusted EBITDA excludes the following M&A, integration and IPO-related items:

CHF 21.4 million charge related to the 2017 management equity plan concluded with the IPO (non-cash with no equity impact, fully funded by the major shareholders)

Including those items, EBITDA for 2019 was CHF 176.4 million, compared with CHF 185.7 million in 2018, on a like-for-like basis. On a reported basis, earnings before net financial items, taxes, depreciation and amortization were CHF 170.3 million, compared with CHF 129.8 million in 2018

Profit for the year was up 59.9% to CHF 125.0 million on a reported basis in 2019. This includes a significant appreciation of CHF 38.9 million in SoftwareONE’s 13% stake in the software company Crayon.

Strong cash generation and unlevered balance sheet

Full-year 2019 net cash flow from operations amounted to CHF 216.3 million, including a positive impact of CHF 53.3 million relating to net working capital. Average net working capital (including factoring) over the course of 2019 was 38% of gross profit, but was brought down to a satisfactory level of 13% by year-end.

Capital expenditure totaled CHF 20.7 million, mainly relating to investments in PyraCloud and purchases of IT equipment. Net cash inflow relating to acquisitions and investments in joint ventures was CHF 42.5 million, including the cash balance of acquired companies.Free cash flow amounted to CHF 192.6 million as at year-end 2019. Net cash position was CHF 190.7 million as at the end of 2019.

Good progress with Comparex integration and synergy realization ahead of target

Since the closing of the Comparex acquisition on 31 January 2019, SoftwareONE has completed several key integration steps, for example: the customer-facing integration phase, including brand refresh and website relaunch, leadership appointments, harmonized Solutions & Services portfolio, aligned go-to-market and sales enablement and harmonized compensation; as well as certain back-end integration phases, such as the combination of all group functions, the launch of a joint learning and development platform and many country-specific system migrations.

Integration activities are on track and realized synergies reached CHF 10 million in 2019, ahead of the CHF 7 million original plan. Remaining integration activities in 2020 include country-specific system migrations. SoftwareONE is confident that it will complete the integration process as planned and achieve the targeted synergies of approx. CHF 60 million p.a. (consisting of CHF 20 million in gross profit synergies and CHF 40 million in cost synergies) on an adjusted EBITDA level in 2021.

Proposed dividend

At the Annual General Meeting on 14 May 2020, the Board of Directors will propose a dividend of CHF 0.21 per share (to be paid from capital contribution reserves), taking into account the uncertain environment due to the Covid-19 situation, while also reflecting SoftwareONE’s confidence in the strength of its business model. The proposed dividend is in line with the IPO guidance of a 30% pay-out ratio in 2019, when excluding the one-off non-cash items relating to the management equity plan and the Crayon revaluation.

Outlook

SoftwareONE has seen continued business momentum in 2020, with only limited effects of the Covid-19 situation so far, although the likely impact since mid-March is still unclear, and developments are rapid and unpredictable.

The group currently sees increased demand from customers for unified communication and collaboration solutions as well as software asset management assessments, both to help them operate virtually and to control and reduce their existing software spend. With technology and software as excellent work enablers, SoftwareONE expects businesses and institutions around the globe to continue to invest in their digital capabilities.

Although some deferral of purchases could take place, the Software & Cloud business line is thus expected to remain relatively strong as customers continue to renew and purchase business critical software and subscriptions. In Solutions & Services, the managed services business is expected to remain relatively stable, while the professional services business could see some disruption due to limited mobility and travel restrictions being enforced at customer locations.

In light of this, SoftwareONE reaffirms its mid-term (2020-2022) guidance provided at the time of the IPO. However, due to the Covid-19 situation, it is currently not possible to predict whether it can already reach gross profit targets in 2020, as expected during the IPO.

Key mid-term guidance includes:

Double-digit gross profit growth resulting from high single-digit growth in sale of software and other revenue and growth in the high teens in solutions and services

Progressive dividend policy with a pay-out ratio of 30-50% of the profit for the year

The globally distributed and digital nature of SoftwareONE’s business allows it to conduct significant parts of its business remotely. All staff, including global shared service centers, are currently working in a full work-from-home program without any interruption to the business or customers. With its strong net debt-free balance sheet and liquidity, unused credit lines and strong cash flow, SoftwareONE is well prepared to weather a potentially longer-term downturn and to continue to invest in its business.

3) In order to present 2019 in the same way as 2018, the expense accounts receivable allowances of CHF 5.0m are reclassified from cost of software purchased to other operating expenses

About SoftwareONE

SoftwareONE is a leading global provider of end-to-end software and cloud technology solutions, headquartered in Switzerland. With capabilities across the entire value chain, it helps companies design and implement their technology strategy, buy the right software and cloud solutions at the right price, and manage and optimize their software estate. Its offerings are connected by PyraCloud, SoftwareONE’s proprietary digital platform, that provides customers with data-driven, actionable intelligence. With around 5,400 employees and sales and service delivery capabilities in 90 countries, SoftwareONE provides around 65,000 business customers with software and cloud solutions from over 7,500 publishers. SoftwareONE’s shares (SWON) are listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. For more information, please visit SoftwareONE.com.
SoftwareONE Holding AG, Riedenmatt 4, CH-6370 Stans

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION

This press release may contain certain forward-looking statements relating to the group’s future business, development and economic performance. Such statements may be subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors, such as but not limited to force majeure, competitive pressures, legislative and regulatory developments, global, macroeconomic and political trends, the group’s ability to attract and retain the employees that are necessary to generate revenues and to manage its businesses, fluctuations in currency exchange rates and general financial market conditions, changes in accounting standards or policies, delay or inability in obtaining approvals from authorities, technical developments, litigation or adverse publicity and news coverage, each of which could cause actual development and results to differ materially from the statements made in this press release. SoftwareONE assumes no obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

1 Current period translated at average exchange rate of prior-year period, based on management accounts

SoftwareONE helps clients govern and manage software estate – be it licensing optimization, procuring effectively, or deploying a cloud-based solution. We work with clients of all sizes, across all geographies to manage your software locally or remotely, in the data center or in a multi-cloud environment.